Gospel + suffering = more gospel.
By Wes Van Fleet | Read the verses.
We live in a culture that does everything necessary to avoid suffering. After all, we deserve comfort, don’t we? The Apostle Paul views suffering quite differently in this passage. He looks deep down the corridor of God’s purposes and declares to his Philippian brothers and sisters that God has used his suffering to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Verses 12-13.
Paul would have been chained to a guard day in and day out. Where this might drive us to introspection and despair, Paul used the opportunity to declare the gospel to the whole Imperial Guard. In fact, the gospel was advancing more with Paul chained to a prison guard more than it would if he was roaming free. It was a bold declaration that gospel preachers may be bound, but the gospel of God cannot.
Verse 14.
Not only did the gospel advance through Paul’s imprisonment, but it advanced among the Christians in Philippi. Many of the people in the church had become “much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Notice the snowball effect here: Paul is imprisoned for the gospel. The gospel advances through that imprisonment. The gospel then advances in the church of Philippi.
We can infer from this verse that the Philippians had grown fearful and timid before Paul’s imprisonment. The good news of Jesus Christ was advancing at a rapid rate, and the Spirit of God used suffering as his vehicle of change.
Verse 15-17.
This is where things get personal. Paul points out some men preaching Christ with the purpose of making Paul’s chains heavier. They envied his ministry and saw his present circumstances as a means of exalting themselves and their own ministry.
Is there anything more opposed to Christ and his humility (Phil. 2:5-8)? For the competitor in most people, this would be very difficult to endure, knowing the motivation of these men. Yet, Paul has already come to the conclusion that the gospel is advancing despite him being in chains.
Verse 18.
At the core of Paul’s rejoicing in suffering is the person and work of Christ. He knows that whatever the motives of others are, all that matters is Christ being proclaimed. The God who can use suffering to advance the gospel is the same God who can use the false motives of others to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knew this was not the first time suffering had been used to advance the gospel.
The Source of Paul’s joy in suffering is actually the clearest demonstration of God using suffering to advance the Gospel. That Source is Jesus himself. Jesus suffered the worst death in human history, but in being lifted up on the cross for all to see, the gospel advanced to people from every tribe, nation, and tongue.
